Tasmania is a world away from Abu Dhabi, but for Australian Maritime College (AMC) alumnus Captain Mohamed, it is far from forgotten.
The Managing Director and Group CEO of the AD Ports Group says his time on the island was pivotal in setting him on his career path.
“The time I spent at the AMC at the University of Tasmania helped shape me into the maritime industry executive I have become today – one dedicated to ensuring the sustainable transition of the global transport and logistics industry, driven by innovation, new technologies, and a sense of global responsibility for our planet and our children,” he said.
Today, he is responsible for managing AD Ports Group, a global company and one of the fastest-growing integrated trade, transport, logistics, and economic development companies in the world.
“We are based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but are active in more than 50 countries,” Captain Mohamed said.
“We are a global business group and our operations are 24/7. I work closely with a top team of executives, who, with me, are responsible for our five main businesses in Ports, Logistics, Maritime & Shipping, Digital, and Economic Cities & Free Zones.
“We operate 34 international ports and terminals around the world, as well as the largest integrated network of industrial parks and economic zones in the Middle East.”
But the Group’s responsibilities are not restricted to the land. AD Ports Group operates a global fleet of 265 vessels, which includes the world’s third-largest independent fleet of “feeder’’ container vessels. Perhaps this isn’t surprising for a country which stretches along the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and a company whose maritime shipping routes currently extend from Asia to Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
“The sea frames our world, and is always on the horizon, as is the desert,” he said. “Before it became an energy hub, the UAE was a nation of seafarers, which not many people outside the region may know.”
Captain Mohamed’s days begin early, before the heat sets in. “My office overlooks Mina Zayed Port, the oldest, most historic port in Abu Dhabi,” he said.
“From my window, I can see our port operations, the turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Gulf, and the ever-changing skyline of Abu Dhabi.
“My current focus is directing our Group’s global expansion, which has involved a series of recent major mergers and acquisitions.
“This all takes place against a backdrop of constantly changing geopolitical volatility, trade, and tariffs.”
He counts among his highlights the chance to develop AD Ports Group from a small, local ports operator in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi into an up-and-coming global integrated trade and transport firm; and the successful development of Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s largest, most efficient container terminal ports.
“I am also proud to have had a hand in developing efficient, sustainable trade and transport infrastructure, which is the future for our industry – a legacy we can leave for our children,” he said.
Sustainability efforts include installing photovoltaic panels, which cut the electricity intensity of Abu Dhabi’s container handling operations at Khalifa Port by 7 per cent in a single year; encouraging marine diversity in port developments; and employing CO2-saving solutions such as e-tugboats, and electric hydrofoiling pilot boats.
“Because of my roots in the maritime industry, I am fascinated by the future of seaborne trade,” he said.
“But the wild beauty of Tasmania is something I have never forgotten and will always miss.” Captain Mohamed
Written by Katherine Johnson for Alumni Magazine Issue 56, 2025.
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Top right: Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi and Khalifa Port, Abu Dhabi | Photo: AD Ports Group